A local citizens' group that teamed up with a U.S.-based animal protection organization tried unsuccessfully Tuesday to capture and "rescue" Tama-chan, a seal who has taken up residence in Yokohama's Katabira River.
About 20 Japanese and foreign members of the U.S.-based Marine Animal Lifeline and the local group, which says it wants to protect the seal, tried to catch the popular Tama-chan.
The attempt was made by divers cordoning off a section of the river with fishing nets.